The Medicare Savings Program (MSP) is a group of state-run programs that help people with limited income pay their Medicare costs. In New York, it pays your Medicare Part B premium ($202.90 a month in 2026) and, under the QMB program, also your Medicare deductibles and coinsurance. A single person qualifies in 2026 with income up to $1,836 a month for QMB, or up to $2,474 for QI, which pays the Part B premium only.
What is the Medicare Savings Program, and what does it pay?
Medicare.gov describes Medicare Savings Programs as state help with the Part A and Part B premiums and, for some programs, deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. You apply through your state, which decides the program. Three of the four federal programs matter for most older adults:
| Program | What it helps pay | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| QMB (Qualified Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premium, Part A premium if you do not have premium-free Part A, plus deductibles, coinsurance and copayments for Medicare-covered services | Medicare providers are not allowed to bill you for Medicare-covered services and items, including deductibles and coinsurance |
| SLMB (Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary) | Part B premium only | You must have both Part A and Part B |
| QI (Qualifying Individual) | Part B premium only | You must reapply every year. Approved first-come, first-served, with priority to people who had QI the year before |
Source: Medicare.gov. At $202.90 a month, the Part B premium comes to $2,434.80 a year, which is what the program takes off your bills (Medicare.gov, 2026 costs). Medicare.gov also says you generally do not pay a Part B late penalty if you enroll in a Medicare Savings Program. Our Part B costs and enrollment guide covers the premium itself.
Which Medicare Savings Programs does New York use: QMB, SLMB or QI?
New York’s own materials name QMB and QI. The state’s Medicare Savings Program 2026 page lists QMB and QI, plus a “Full Medicaid for Dual Eligibles” group. It does not mention SLMB. The New York City Human Resources Administration (HRA) brochure likewise lists only QMB and QI-1.
The numbers suggest why. Medicare.gov’s 2026 federal SLMB limit is $1,616 a month for one person, while New York’s QMB limit is $1,836, so someone in the usual SLMB range would appear to fall under QMB here. A 2023 state notice to local offices (GIS 23 MA/02) says some people enrolled in SLMB could be income-eligible for QMB and had to be moved. That is our reading, not a state statement, so if you hear “SLMB,” ask HRA which program you would be placed in.
What are the 2026 income limits in New York?
Here is what the state page says for 2026. It states the monthly limits with the $20 disregard as it reads: “the income listed reflects the $20 monthly SSI general income disregard.” It also shows a separate “+ $20” column.
| Group (2026) | Single, monthly income | Couple, monthly income | Resources, as listed by the state |
|---|---|---|---|
| QMB (up to 138% of the federal poverty level) | $1,836 (+ $20 column: $1,856) | $2,489 (+ $20 column: $2,509) | Not listed on the page |
| QI (below 186% of the federal poverty level) | $2,474 (+ $20 column: $2,494) | $3,355 (+ $20 column: $3,375) | Not listed on the page |
| Full Medicaid for Dual Eligibles | $1,836 (+ $20 column: $1,856) | $2,489 (+ $20 column: $2,509) | $33,038 single, $44,796 couple |
Under the table the state adds that Medicaid allows a $20 deduction from gross monthly income when calculating MSP eligibility. The page does not say which column a worker applies to your own gross income, so ask when you apply.
Do savings and other resources count?
The state page gives resource figures only for the full Medicaid dual group, not for QMB or QI. A 2008 state notice, GIS 08 MA/016, says New York eliminated the resource test for QMB and SLMB in 2008, after doing so for QI in 2002. The current application, DOH-4328, has no questions about bank accounts, though it does ask about trusts. That points to savings not deciding MSP eligibility in New York, but the notice is old, so ask HRA to confirm.
Is the Medicare Savings Program welfare? Will I qualify?
A common worry is “that is for poor people, I will not qualify.” The official sources point the other way:
- Medicare.gov tells people to apply anyway. Its page says that even if you do not think you qualify, you should still apply, because states may not count certain income or resources.
- New York’s limits are above the federal minimum. Its QMB limit is $1,836 for one person, against $1,350 in Medicare.gov’s federal table.
- It is a Medicaid benefit, not a separate handout. The state’s application says payment of your Medicare premium is a Medicaid benefit.
We found no official count of who qualifies, so we give none. If your income is above the lines in the table, ask about New York’s Medicaid spend-down, and see our financial help for seniors in NYC guide for other programs.
How do you apply in New York?
The state page says to mail the application to your local Department of Social Services (HRA in New York City) or apply online with NY State of Health. The steps below follow the state’s instructions:
- Get the application. Use the Medicare Savings Program Application, DOH-4328, available in several languages. You can also call the Medicaid Helpline at 1-800-541-2831. In NYC, HRA’s helpline is 888-692-6116 and applications can be filed on ACCESS HRA, in person or by mail, according to its brochure.
- Fill it in completely. If you are married and live with your spouse, both of you complete the form, even if only one applies.
- Attach your documents (the list is in the next section) and sign. Keep a copy.
- Send it to your local office. The state’s how to apply page gives HRA’s number as (718) 557-1399 and the NY State of Health customer line as (855) 355-5777. Its address finder is on the state’s local district page.
- Wait for the notice. The office sends a Notice of Action telling you whether you will get the benefit.
If you want both MSP and full Medicaid, the HRA brochure says to use the longer application. If you are unsure where to start, the Medicaid Helpline can point you to the right office.
What documents should you prepare?
The DOH-4328 instructions list what to send. An applying spouse sends the same documents.
| Document | Examples the state accepts |
|---|---|
| Medicare card | Photocopy of the front and back of the red, white and blue card |
| Proof of date of birth | Driver’s license, U.S. birth certificate, U.S. passport, green card, NYS Benefit Identification Card |
| Proof of residence (dated within 6 months of signing) | Lease, landlord letter or rent receipt, utility bill, property tax record, mortgage statement, postmarked envelope (not to a P.O. Box) |
| Proof of income | Four weeks of pay stubs, employer letter, pension statement, tax return, Social Security, unemployment or veteran’s award letter |
| Other health insurance premiums you pay | Employer letter, premium statement or pay stub |
| Immigration status, if not a U.S. citizen | Green card (I-551) or employment authorization card (I-766) |
The form also asks whether you want the office to consider retroactive reimbursement of your Medicare premium. If you do, send proof of income for the previous three months.
How long does a decision take, and when does help start?
The state’s instructions say the office will send a Notice of Action within 45 days of filing. The start date depends on the program, according to the HRA brochure:
- QMB: effective the first day of the month after eligibility is determined. If you are found eligible in January, benefits start in February.
- QI-1: effective the month you apply, runs from January 1 to December 31, and is approved first-come, first-served.
Once you are approved, the Part B premium no longer comes out of your Social Security payment, per the same brochure.
What happens when your income changes?
The application states that you agree to report changes to the information on it immediately. The state also says you must renew your MSP every year. If no renewal notice comes in the mail, call your local Medicaid office or HRA and ask what to do so you keep the benefit. QI is a calendar-year program, so you reapply each year.
Income that rises can change which program fits. The HRA brochure puts QMB up to 138% of the federal poverty level and QI-1 between 138% and 186%, so a raise or a Social Security cost-of-living increase may move you from one to the other, or off the program. Ask at renewal whether you still fit.
Does the Medicare Savings Program also bring Extra Help with drug costs?
Yes. Medicare.gov says you get Extra Help with Part D automatically if you have help from your state paying your Part B premium through a Medicare Savings Program. You pay no more than $12.65 in 2026 for each drug your plan covers, and you do not pay a Part D late enrollment penalty while you have Extra Help. You will get a notice in the mail. See our guide to Part D and EPIC in New York for the rest of the drug coverage picture.
How does MSP fit with full Medicaid, dual eligibility and MLTC?
They are related but not the same. Medicare.gov says people with both Medicare and full-benefit Medicaid are “dually eligible”: Medicare pays first and Medicaid pays last. The state page says a person can have QMB only, or QMB and Medicaid. Our Medicare versus Medicaid guide compares the two programs.
| MSP only (QMB or QI) | Full Medicaid for dual eligibles | |
|---|---|---|
| What it pays | QMB: Part B premium, deductibles, coinsurance. QI: Part B premium only | A wide range of medical care, services and supplies, plus premiums, coinsurance and deductibles |
| 2026 single income limit on the state page | $1,836 (QMB), $2,474 (QI) | $1,836, with a $33,038 resource limit |
| Can it be combined with Medicaid? | QMB yes. QI no | Not applicable |
| Home care through managed long term care | Ask the plan or HRA; we found no state statement on MSP alone | Medicaid is the coverage MLTC requires |
The state’s managed long term care page lists Medicaid as the coverage required for MLTC partial capitation, Medicaid and Medicare for Medicaid Advantage Plus, and Medicaid, Medicare and private pay for PACE. If you need home care, see our guides to what Medicaid covers for home care and PACE versus MLTC.
Where can you get free help with the application?
New York’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program is HIICAP, at 1-800-701-0501 (listed on SHIP), with free one-on-one Medicare counseling. The Medicaid Helpline is 1-800-541-2831.
Medicare Savings Programs: advice from our nurse director
Anna Klyauzova, RN, MSN, MPA, Director of Patient Services at ProLife Home Care, on what she sees in practice:
Families often haven’t heard of the Medicare Savings Programs, Extra Help with prescription costs, SNAP, or HEAP for heating bills. Many never check Medicaid or home care eligibility because they assume their income is too high. If you don’t know what you qualify for, start with what is on the table: insurance, income, benefits already received and the person’s care needs. You don’t have to fill out a dozen applications this week. First find out which programs fit. NYC Aging, NY Connects and Medicaid specialists are good places to ask, and hospital Medical Social Services can help in tricky situations.
Please don’t wait for a hospital stay or a fall to start looking. It is far easier to arrange safe care before things reach a crisis.
We are a licensed home care agency in Brooklyn and Queens, licence #2572L001, New York State Department of Health. We are not a benefits office, so for the application itself use the contacts above, but we can help families understand their home care options and send them to the right specialist for the rest. Call (718) 232-2777 or use our contact page.
Income limits and rules change every year. Everything above was checked on 16 October 2026 against health.ny.gov, medicare.gov, nyc.gov and shiphelp.org. The state page we read is marked revised May 2026, and the NYC HRA brochure is from 2024, so confirm your own case with HRA, your local social services office, the Medicaid Helpline or HIICAP. This page is general information, not insurance or legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Medicare Savings Program?
It is a set of state programs that pay Medicare costs for people with limited income. In New York they pay the Part B premium and, with QMB, also deductibles and coinsurance. The state decides which program you qualify for.
What is the difference between QMB, SLMB and QI?
QMB pays the Part B premium plus deductibles, coinsurance and copayments. SLMB and QI pay the Part B premium only. In New York, the state page lists QMB and QI and does not mention SLMB.
What are the 2026 Medicare Savings Program income limits in New York?
For QMB, $1,836 a month for a single person and $2,489 for a couple. For QI, $2,474 single and $3,355 for a couple. The state page also shows a “+ $20” column and says the listed figures reflect the $20 disregard.
Is there an asset limit for the Medicare Savings Program in New York?
The state page lists resource limits only for full Medicaid for dual eligibles ($33,038 single, $44,796 couple). A 2008 state notice says the resource test was eliminated for QMB and SLMB, and for QI in 2002. Confirm with HRA.
How do I apply for the Medicare Savings Program in New York?
Complete form DOH-4328 and mail it with your documents to your local social services office (HRA in New York City), or apply online through NY State of Health. The Medicaid Helpline is 1-800-541-2831.
Does the Medicare Savings Program include Extra Help for prescriptions?
Yes. Medicare.gov says people who get state help with their Part B premium through an MSP get Extra Help automatically. In 2026 you pay no more than $12.65 for each drug your Medicare plan covers.
Do I have to renew the Medicare Savings Program, and what if my income goes up?
Yes, renew every year, and report changes right away. QI is also a yearly program. Higher income can move you between QMB and QI or end eligibility, so ask HRA at renewal.
